Worried About An Adult's Behavior

Someone you love or care about may be acting in ways that worry or confuse you. Maybe you’ve noticed inappropriate behaviors that have a sexual tone or make others feel awkward, nervous, or embarrassed. Or, you might know of current sexual abuse, possibly involving child pornography that must be stopped.

Learn how to have the conversation.

Talking about sexual abuse is hard, especially when you care about the people involved. Learning how to talk about your concerns can help protect a child in your life and make a huge difference in the life of an adult who needs help. We can help you find the right words for a helpful conversation.

Act now.

You don’t need to wait until you’re sure that abuse has occurred to step in. Many people who sexually abuse children want to stop, but feel there is nowhere to turn for help. We can help you find specialized help, including reporting options, for everyone involved.

Learning about the warning signs that could indicate an adult is at risk to abuse a child can give you the opportunity to take preventive action. If you’re not sure if the behaviors that worry you are significant, seek guidance from professionals or organizations with relevant expertise, or talk to other trusted adults who are close to the situation.

If you are seeing warning signs or risky behaviors, raising your concerns with other adults can be the first step to protecting a child. Staying silent, because you don’t have proof, may leave a child exposed to danger. Finding allies – other trusted adults or professionals – can help you figure out what is needed to address the situation and prevent harm. If it is safe to do so, speaking directly to the adult you are worried about can, in some cases, lead that person to seek specialized help.

If abuse is suspected, reaching out to protective authorities could lead to the protection of a child, and getting recovery help for the child. Filing a report can result in holding the person who is abusing accountable and getting them treatment so that they will be able to stop abusive behaviors.

Most children who are sexually abused, are abused by someone they know and trust, yet there is no single profile of an adult who sexually offends children. More often abuse is a process and not a single event. Learning how some abusers may approach children can help you identify patterns of risky behavior, and provide the chance for you to intervene. Understanding what factors may lead someone to abuse can help you assess your situation.

The Sex Offender Registry is just one tool in helping parents and other concerned adults plan for safety. As nearly 85% percent of sex abuse cases are never reported, it is never a good idea to depend on the registry alone to protect children. Find information below on how the registry works and how to use it effectively.

If abuse is suspected, reaching out to protective authorities could lead to the protection of a child, and getting recovery help for the child. Filing a report can result in holding the person who is abusing accountable and getting them treatment so that they will be able to stop abusive behaviors.

Most often adults who struggle with sexual thoughts and impulses related to children require professional help. Specialized treatment focuses on learning strategies for stopping abusive behavior, being accountable and taking responsibility for harm done. For the vast majority of adults who have committed a sexual offense, treatment significantly reduces the future risk of offending.

Preparing for legal involvement can help an adult who is at-risk to abuse a child or who has abused a child plan for safety, as well as prepare others who are concerned that an adult they know is a risk to children.